New Mexico _ Everyone in Albuquerque seems to have a contribution to the wish list of coaches to dig out from the disaster that is Lobo football.

Local TV station KOB came up with an extensive list from Texas Tech and Kansas discards Mike Leach and Mark Mangino to ex-Lobos coach Dennis Franchione, who first revived the program in 1997.

There’s also two names with old Front Range connections. Arizona State offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, a UNM alum, was as Boulder High School and Colorado State assistant in the 1980’s. Notre Dame run coordinator Ed Warriner had the nation’s top rushing offense at Air Force in 2002.

San Diego State _ San Diego State players didn’t address the media after losing at Michigan last week. When they did speak during the week, most told the San Diego Union-Tribune it was a hushed locker room.
As fifth-year senior quarterback Ryan Lindley: “The attitude of the team has really changed. It’s something where we expect to win every game now. I couldn’t honestly say the first couple years I was here that was the case.”

UNLV _Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Ed Graney had a field day with UNLV posting two police officers on horseback to “defend” the west goal post from being torn down after UNLV inexplicably lost to Southern Utah 40-16.

Boise State _ Boise State and BYU never had the chance to play as Mountain West rivals, but their nonleague series will be extended through 2023.

TCU _ Pre-season All-MWC junior linebacker Tanner Brock will have two seasons left after missing the rest of the seasons with a foot injury. Unlike Colorado State injured senior Mychal Sisson who can’t extend his eligibility because he voluntarily redshirted as a freshman, Brock played as a true freshman for the Frogs.

New Mexico _ The train wreck that was the Mike Locksley era at New Mexico has pulled into the station for the final time.

Every press box wag (guilty as charged) around the Mountain
West Saturday was wondering if Locksley would be fired at halftime of the eventual OT loss to Sam Houston State.

Yet in a move that defined the 2-26 gridiron soap opera, it was revealed the next day that an under-aged driver with a .16 blood alcohol count was driving an SUV registered to Locksley on Saturday.

Get this: the driver claimed to be a recruit.

Another occupant in the car was arrested for being belligerent to the police. She claimed to be the girlfriend of Locksley’s son who is on the Lobos’ roster.

The university denied the driver was a recruit.

This tops off a wilfe ride with two wins (against CSU and Wyoming), a sexual harassment/age discrimination suit; a 10-day suspension for punching an assistant, and numerous garden variety player arrests.

The Mtn. was scheduled to carry the carnage of a press conference.

One positive note for the Lobos: The only non-Colorado State player to earn MW player of the week honors was freshman wide receiver Deon Long who shared offensive award with Ram Chris Nwoke. Long broke ex-Ram Gartrell Johnson’s MW record 378 all-purpose yards.

San Diego State _ Aztecs players were spared from talking to the media after the 28-7 loss to Michigan and former coach Brady Hoke. “They were very emotional after the game, depressed, disappointed, upset, however you want to say,” said SDSU coach Rocky Long, “It was a very emotional locker room after the game and not in a good sense.”

UNLV _ The UNLV-Nevada Battle for the Fremont Cannon will be televised an obscure local cable channel for UNLV fans. There might not be many fans left after Rebels lost to FCS upstart Southern Utah.

TCU _ The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports what while Horned Frogs fans might be divided between the scheduled leap to the Big East and a potential long-awaited Big 12 invite, Frogs coach Gary Patterson isn’t changing his tune. “You better be loyal to the Big East,” he said. “And before that, be loyal to the Mountain West.”
So much for Mountain West
loyalty.

He said there aren’t any current talks about reviving the Colorado-Nebraska rivalry on a nonleague basis but it’s something to consider down the road.

I also extended well wishes from former CU coach Bill McCartney. I never thought I’d hear this but McCartney told me last week that now that CU and Nebraska aren’t in the same conference, he’s a Big Red fan.

While most of the Wyoming and Mountain West honchos were in the new luxury boxes opposite the press box at War Memorial Stadium, Osborne was content in his visiting AD booth.

Wyoming _ The biggest crowd in Wyoming history is expected for the 5:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday with No. 9 Nebraska so the Wyoming athletic department is urging fans to arrive early.

It’s impossible to get there too early. The parking lots and will call windows will open at 8 a.m. With a turnout of red expected by Nebraskans, Cowboys fans are urged to wear gold.

New Mexico _ Deon Long, one of the few bright spots for the winless Lobos, has been added to the Biletnikoff watch list for the nation’s top wide receiver. The transfer from West Virginia is second in the MW with 88.3 yards a game.

San Diego State _ Rocky Long didn’t know where he would find any receivers going into the year. Colin Lockett, a sophomore who wasn’t listed on the pre-season two-deep, was added to the Biletnikoff watch list Friday. He is third in the MW with 84.7 yards a game.

TCU _ Now that Dan Beebe is out as Big 12 commissioner, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports there may be new interest by the league in the Horned Frogs. Beebe had said he was only interested in new TV markets. TCU’s Big East, destination, meanwhile is most uncertain.

The Fort Worth school has only tried to get into the Big 12 since the Southwest Conference dissolved in the mid 1990’s.

UNLV _ Daniel Harper, one of those fifth-year transfers who already has his degree from another school, is starting to make an impact at safety for the Rebels. He graduated from USC and wasn’t a big Lane Kiffin fan.

“I wished (Kiffin) all the best, but I’m a grown man now, I’m a college graduate, and sometimes you have to make adult decisions, and this is one of them,” Harper told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson, who caught a school record 284 yards two weeks ago against Cal, and CU running back Rodney “Speedy” Stewart were among several late additions to the Biletnikoff Award.

The award goes to the top receiver in the nation. Friday’s announcement includes all those who went undetected on the summer radar of returning players.

ESPN has discovered his Twitter talents, with Pat Forde and others singing his praises. It seems a new series of mini clips promoting the Rams is getting attention. Miles is all over the Twitter-sphere.

It doesn’t matter how I hyped his TV show or cleaned up his language for print or recounted his Twitter bashing of Steve Alford. Now he’ll never return a call or text because he’s so famous.

The official stand of the University of Colorado regarding potential influx into the Pac-12 is “no comment.”

I called administration spokesman Bronson Hilliard on another matter Tuesday and he volunteered “This institution isn’t commenting on speculation on conference realignment.”

If, indeed former Big 12 fellow members Texas and Oklahoma (and possibly others) pack up and head west, it’s hard to imagine CU being overjoyed. Remember, they rang bells on campus the day CU left the Big 12 and officially joined the Pac-12

This should be interesting. Lodo’s Bar and Grill in Highlands Ranch, home of both Colorado and Ohio State watch parties, will feature the inter-regional match-up. The Denver CU alumni chapter requests Buff fans show an hour before the 1:30 p.m. kickoff.

It will be a week of chatter about former San Diego State coach Brady Hoke hosting his former team. His hand-picked successor, Rocky Long, said “They know our personnel a lot better than we know their personnel, so I think there’s a huge advantage,” Long told the San Diego Union Tribune.

Hoke took, among others, ex-offensive coordinator Al Borges and former Colorado State assistant and offensive line coach Darrell Funk.

In other Axtecs news, running back Ronnie Hillman shared Mountain West offensive player of the week honors with Boise State’s Kellen Moore. The two combined for nine TDs.

Suffice to say, it will be an interesting race for player of the year.

A look around the Mountain West:San Diego State _ http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/14/sdsu-football-becoming-hotter-ticket/
football attendance at what was a basketball school in Albuquerque. He’s doing it again in San Diego, where there are far more alternatives for the recreational dollar, including a basketball powerhouse.

Since Long took over for Michigan-bound Brady Hoke, the Aztecs season-ticket base has improved 27 percent to 12,380.

Obviously, San Diego State has the drawing cards this year in senior quarterback Ryan Lindley and sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman.

Basketball iconb Steve Fisher proved people will flock to a winner in basketball and Long is trying to build a similar base.

Incidentally, the 2-0 Aztecs are looking to break a 19-game losing streak against Pac-10 teams when Washington State visits Qualcomm Stadium Saturday.

Boise State _ Speaking of season tickets, http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/14/sdsu-football-becoming-hotter-ticket/
for sale. TCU, Air Force and old WAC rival Nevada are slellouts with only a handful of tickets for Tulsa and Wyoming.

New Mexico _ As if the http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091311aac.html

didn’t face enough woes against Texas Tech, the Red Raiders defensive coordinator Chad Glasgow knows Nedw Mexico inside out from 10 years on the 10 staff at TCU. Look for an abundance of 4-2-5 defenses on the field.

UNLV _ After Hawaii and UNLV lost by a combined 99-39 in the state of Washington last week, Hawaii visits Sin City for the Rebels home opener. Outscored 110-24 this season, UNLV is struggling even more than expected.

TCU _ The Horned Frogs are http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/09/13/3365508/tcu-finding-early-power-in-reserve.html
where other teams would be severely challenged to replace the likes of injured linebacker Tanner Brock or injured running back Ed Wesley. Walk-on defensive end Jon Koontz made a big play at Air Forceand another end, Ross Forrest have overcome two seasons of injuries.

Wyoming: The Cowboys get one of the http://trib.com/college/wyoming/article_f564bbe0-cfeb-541e-841a-318878b42445.html
of the year with a 10 a.m. MDT start at Bowling Green Saturday. The team had 6 a.m. practices late in the week to get acclimatized.

The Denver Metro Sports Commission came up with a winning formula Wednesday for the annual Rocky Mountain Showdown luncheon.

It’s always been a chance for sponsor recognition, political speeches, institutional (academic and athletic) chest thumping, and former players from both schools _ now wearing business suits _ reliving glory days.

There were also interesting internal dynamics at work with the two coaches who were bought out of their contracts years ago.

CU athletic director Mike Bohn made a point of thanking Barnett for his participation. The former coach of the 2001 Big 12 champs was honored at halftime Saturday at Folsom Field. In the past year, Barnett has coached an alumni flag team before the Spring Game and was part of last fall’s celebration of the 1990 national champs.

There has been no such recognition for Lubick. He has watched games in Hughes Stadium from the box seats belonging to the business school. He serves as an unofficial ambassador to the school. However, he has not officially been brought back for any functions on the field that bears his name.

No one can put a price tag on Lubick’s value to the university. Chatting with Lubick prior to lunch, an ex-Ram I had never met (Scott Whitehouse, RB, 1984-88) approached Lubick, who was his offensive coordinator back in the day.

Whitehouse, who had his own table at the event, told Lubick was one of the five most influential persons in his entire life.

Then still at the top of his game in front of microphone and a football loving audience, Lubick showed CSU fans when they missed for nearly four years.

Kvamme, a former overachieving linebacker typical of the Lubick era, summed up Lubick’s leagacy: “He cared more about loyalty and unity than wins and losses.”

Colorado-Colorado State was out of sight but not out of mind when the UCLA staff of 2003-05 was a house divided between ex-CU player/assistants Jon Embree and Eric Bieniemy and Colorado State partisans Larry Kerr and Brian Schneider.

Actually the rivalry just festered.

From 2003-05, the UCLA losing coaches had to wear the other team’s colors and sing the rival’s fight song.

Embree and Bieniemy never broke out the green and gold but Bieniemy said he was plenty worried.
Those were all games CU won in the final minutes.

BOULDER — On a staff with a heavy emphasis on past Colorado ties, if not a few varsity letters and a degree, CU passing game coordinator/special teams coach J.D. Brookhart is definitely the odd man out this week.

Brookhart is a proud Colorado State alum. The Pueblo native started three seasons at wide receiver for the Rams, leading CSU with 683 yards in 1987. He is still ninth on CSU’s career receiving list with 1,873 from 1985-87.

“It’s going to be as blast,” Brookhart said of the reunion with his alma mater. “I have a great feeling for the CSU team.”

He said he goes back the longest with director of football operations Tom Ehlers.

The much-traveled Brookhart had a successful stint at Akron where he was Mid-America coach of the year 2004. There was a groundswell of support for Brookhart to become CSU’s coach in 2008.

As for those CSU ties, however, fellow first-year CU assistant Mike Tuiasosopo said “He’ll have to get over it.”

Boulder _ Colorado’s right offensive tackle Jack Harris had his broken foot in a boot and was getting around on crutches Monday in the Dal Ward Center. It pretty much reflected the somber mood as players streamed in to meet for the first time since Saturday’s defeat.
Harris, a first-time starter as a redshirt sophomore, broke a bone in his foot during the 36-33 OT loss to Cal.
It appears he will be out indefinitely.
There are a few options available to the staff. Sione Tau replaced him during the game. If left tackle David Bakhtiari returns from a knee sprain in the opener, his back-up Ryan Dannewitz, could slide over to right tackle.

The most glaring statistical halftime difference (beside’s Cal’s 16-6 lead) comes in the penalty department. CU was flagged nine times for 68 yards in the first half. Not one thread of yellow was thrown on the Bears.

So much for homefield advantage.

CU coach Jon Embree had some leeway for first game mistakes a week ago at Hawaii. He said after practice early in the week he wasn’t going to tolerate repeated mental lapses incurring penalties.

Embree must have said something in the locker room. The Buffs just drove 80 yards on 10 plays for CU’s first TD of the day and there wasn’t a single flag.

Special teams provided most of CU highlights. Will Oliver established a school freshman record with a 52-yard field goal and Will Pericak blocked an PAT after Cal’s first TD. It was the first blocked PAT by a CU player since the 2005 Champs Bowl.

Tyler Hansen’s first half ending Hail Mary is broke up at the goal line as visiting Bears takes a 16-6 lead into the lockerroom.

Kensler joined The Denver Post in 1989 and has covered a variety of beats, including Colorado, Colorado State, golf, Olympics and the Denver Broncos. His brush with greatness: losing in a two-on-two pickup basketball game at Ohio State against two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.